Method and device for stacking uniform block-shaped elements to be bundled and transported such as bricks,concrete bricks,briquettes and the like and stacks composed by application of the method



Dec. 30, 1969 w. A. M. POMPE 3,486,614

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STACKING UNIFORM BLOCK-SHAPED ELEMENTS T0 BE BUNDLED AND I'RANSPORTED SUCHAS BRIGKS,CONCRETE 'BRICKS, BRIQUETTES AND THE LIKE AND STACKS COMPOSED BY APPLICATION OF THE METHOD Filed Aug. 9, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l f I I 4;, 4/4 I 5 6 2 5 7 FIGJ INVENTOR. WILHELMUS A. M. POMPE ATTORNEYS Dec. 30, 1969 w. A. M. POMPE 3,486,614

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STACKING UNIFORMZBLOCK-SHAPED ELEMENTS TO BE BUNDLED AND TRANSPORTED SUCH AS BRICKS CONCRETE BRICKS, BRIQUETTES AND THE LIKE AND STACKS COMPOSED BY APPLICATION OF THE METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1966 Fl-G.2

INVENTOR. WILHELMUS A. M. POMPE ATTORNEYS Dec. 30, 1969 w. A. M. POMPE 3,436,514

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STACKING UNIFORMBLOCK-SHAPED ELEMENTS To BE BUNDLED AND TRANSPORTED SUCH AS BRICKSfCQNCRETE BRICKS, BRIQUETTES AND THE LIKE AND STACKS COMPOSED BY APPLICATION OF THE METHOD Filed Aug. 9, 1966 SSheets-Sheet 5 FIG.3

INVENTOR. WILHELMUS A. M. POMPE ATTORNEYS 'CONCRETE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 W. A. M. POMPE COMPOSED BY APPLICATION OF THE METHOD BRICKS, BHIQUETTES AND THE LIKE AND STACKS BE BUNDLED AND TRANSPORTED SUCH AS BRICKS METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STACKING UNIFORME'BLOCK-SHAPED ELEMENTS T012 Dec. 30. 1969 Filed Aug. 9, 1966 Y |e i INVDNTOR. WILHELMUS A. M. POMPE ATTORNEYS METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STACKING UNIFORM BLOCK'SHAPED ELEMENTS To 5 BE BUNDLED AND TRANSPORTED SUCH AS BRICKS "CONCRETE BRICKS, BRIQUE'ITES AND THE LIKE AND STACKS COMPOSED BY APPLICATION OF THE METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 9, 1966 l i-HI Has FIG.5

INVENTOR.

WILHELMUS A. M. POMPE ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 206-65 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of producing bundled stack of uniform layers of elements, consisting in placing at least a part of a layer out of alignment with respect to the adjacent layers either by shifting or tilting said layers in the range of one element, in providing recesses within the stack by removing one element from the stack and shifting vertically another element from adjacent layer half-way on its place, and in compressing and bundling the finally shaped stack.

A method for stacking uniform block-shaped elements to be bundled and transported, such as e.g. bricks, concrete bricks, shaped bricks, briquettes and the like is known. According to this method the elements are stacked in a so-called bond: in stretchers and headers in order to provide, after having been bundled, the required coherence and to relieve the surrounding band by preventing displacements in case of lifting forces and impacts occurring during transport. The drawback of such stacking method is that the purpose mostly is not achieved owing to the possibility of vertical displacement of the elements along each other during transport and the too slight nabla action due to which the band, besides at the corners, also is charged elsewhere namely with transverse forces which cause the band to stretch; it is also a drawback that the elements have to be turned, a method which is poorlly adapted to be mechanically effected, it being necessary for the elements to be seized individually or in groups and turned according to the program.

The invention aims at providing a simplified method for stacking, both manually and for mechanical application with which also recesses for a lifting device can be formed, a good coherence of the elements against lifting and impact forces being obtained.

According to the invention, the process is characterized in that in at least an important part of the layers or portions thereof the elements of a layer or portion thereof are located shifted in parallel in respect of the elements in an adjacent layer or portion thereof, or are turned less than 90 in respect of each other, or firstly are located in shifted position to be thereupon turned over less than 90, to be bundled hereupon in order after being bundled to be able to distribute the upward lifting force during lifting of the stack over as large layer width as possible, preferably directed to the upper corners and to provide during transport of the stack the possibly greatest coherence against occurring impact forces which in this way also can be distributed over the stack.

For the formation of a stack with the depth of one element, hereafter called sheet, the elements are simply put in a row one beside the other, on their sides or fiat, perpendicularly to the face of the sheet, which can also be realized mechanically in a simple way by means of a supply conveyor. On a layer thus obtained, the following one is laid, of which the elements may be or can be shifted in parallel to each other in respect of the elements in the preceding layer.

This can be mechanically achieved in a simple manner by relative shifting of the discharge end of the conveyor and the final stacked layer.

Owing to the staggered relationship of the joints between the elements of some adjacent layers a large mutual coherence of the elements is obtained in a surprisingly simple way, while a lifting force acting on an element in the lower layers is distributed nabla-like over the superposed layers, just as is done with impact forces occurring during transport.

It will be clear that a similar effect also is achieved if not each layer is shifted in respect of an adjacent layer, e.g. by shifting always two layers of elements in respect of each other or when bricks are applied tilted in one or more layers or portions thereof. By shifting part of the lowermost layer or layers vertically into the openings for the teeth of the lift truck, these openings remain better intact due to which fewer disturbances and damages occur during the insertion of said teeth and the lowermost layer(s) constitute(s) a supporting arch by means of which the stack also remains better intact and does not sag during transport.

For the rest it is also possible to vary the number of elements in a row by shifting while maintaining the coherence, due to which a tub-shaped stack may be obtained by which the bundling by means of the band can be improved by horizontal pressing components.

During manual stacking it is possible, in principle, to put the elements against each other. In case of elements which are mechanically supplied the occurrence of a certain distance between the elements mutually should be taken into account also already owing to mutual measure deviations.

Since the overlaps between two rows of stacked elements, considering the slight width and thickness of the element, are only slight, a thus stacked sheet, owing to deviations in measure and/or shape, may have the tendency to annul local shifts during stacking.

This is in contradistinction with stacks of elements located right above each other, which are pressed onto each other per column, regardless the mutual differences in height of the elements.

In order to be sure that the shiftings are fixed according to plan and that no distances between the elements are maintained, preferably compressing forces are exerted per element and layer onto the tooth-shaped profile of the stack and, if need be from the formed cavities, combined, if desired, with vibrations of the stack in order to eliminate the mutual friction of the elements and in this manner to eliminate a possible threshold action owing to differences in height in the elements, in order to reinstate the staggered relationship, where necessary, during which compression the surrounding band can be mounted.

If instead of a stack with shifted elements a stack with turned elements is applied, the elements, in case of manual stacking, will in general be located immediately somewhat turned in respect of the preceding layer; mechanically stacked, the elements will preferably be supplied straightly aligned, the stacking will be effected with shifted elements to turn them thereupon during the compression, during which a vibrating action, if any, will be capable of facilitating the turning.

Such stacked sheets, put against each other, can be combined to a stack by suitable means and be transported after having been bundled.

If recesses have been formed the stack can also be displaced by means of a fork of a lift truck cooperating with the openings.

The invention will be elucidated by way of the drawings with a few embodiments.

FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 show the stack formed by application of the method according to the invention.

FIGURE 4 shows a front view of the device according to the invention for forming the stack.

FIGURE 5 shows a cross section of the device on the line V-V in FIGURE 4.

FIGURES 6 and 7 show a particular embodiment of the band by which the loose elements, if any, yet are held in toothed stacks and/or in case of a band which is not tight.

In FIGURE 1 an example is given of a stack provided with recesses 1 and 2 formed between two rows of elements 3 and 4 the elements 5 of the first row 3 having been shifted over a part of their height into a corresponding recess of the second row 4.

As long as the stack has not been bundled the elements 5 can be held in the required position by filling in pieces 6 and 7.

According to the example a sheet of veneer 9 or the like can be interposed during stacking between the second row 4 and the third row 8 to hold the elements to be placed above the recess in the desired position and to prevent damage during lifting.

The elements of the third row 8 are shifted over a part of their width in horizontal direction in respect of the elements of the second row 4. As an example the elements of the fourth row 10 are shifted over a half element width in opposite sense in respect of the elements of the third row 8.

It will be clear that the relative shifting can be chosen entirely arbitrarily within the scope of the invention.

In FIGURE 2 a stack is drawn in which in a middle row 11 an additional element is added to the normal row in order to give the stack a larger width on the spot to resemble to the tub-shape so that also the elements in one or more of the layers situated in the middle are directly pressed against each other by the band 18.

In FIGURE 3 a stack is drawn in which, as an example some rows are formed by elements turned in respect of each other. Obviously also a larger or smaller number of rows can have turned elements.

In FIGURES 4 and 5 is drawn an embodiment of a stack frame for stacking according to the method. In a frame 12 formed by two spaced and closed frames 13 and 14 connected with each other, the means are located for the arrangement and compression of the elements and the calibration of the sheet or the stack.

On the lower cross connection of the frame 12 the filling-in pieces 6 and 7 may be located. As an example cam-shaped members 15, preferably adjustable, are located at the right hand post of the frame in accordance With the desired profile of the stack, Whereas on the left hand frame posts movable compression members are located indicated by 16 which are capable of adapting themselves, in accordance with the profile of the stack, to its deviations. Corresponding members 17 may be employed vertically.

Cores 1 and 2' may be arranged in the recesses 1 and 2 which cores may be expansible and which can compress the elements also from said recesses.

Evidently variants within the scope of the invention can be applied here.

After or while the elements are or have been compressed under tension the whole can be brought into vibration to eliminate threshold action, if any, whereupon or during which the band for bundling the stack can be located between the two frame works 13 and 14.

In FIGURES 6 and 7 a particular embodiment of a band for bundling is represented. This band 18 in normal condition, as dravm in FIGURE 7, is provided with unilateral bucklings 18'. If the band is wound around the stack in opposition to its natural curve and drawn tight, an elastic bundling is obtained with local pressure points 4 which adapts itself better to the tooth-shaped profile of the stack; owing to the fact that the band stands slightly hollow also in case of a straightly toothed stack yet an individual compression of loose elements can be obtained.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of stacking uniform rectangular solid elements to be bundled and transported, comprising steps of superimposing in uniform fashion and in one direction a plurality of said elements into uniform rows to create a regular multilayer and multicolumn sheet and horizontally shifting within the range of one column and in the direction of a row a part of said layers out of alignment with respect to adjacent layers to provide lateral recesses and protrusions in said sheet.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said part of layers is shifted in the longitudinal direction to provide parallel lateral recesses in said sheet.

3. A method according to claim 1 comprising steps of compressing in horizontal planes of respective layers at least the greater part of the elements, before being bundled, to prevent tilting by mutual friction and to maintain the desired mutual position of the layers.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein a stacked sheet during the compression of the separate layers is vibrated in order to disturb a possible threshold action between the elements of adjacent layers.

5. A device for application of the method according to claim 1 comprising a stack frame the inner periphery of which is at least partially provided with staggered rectangular projections directed parallel to the frame and corresponding to shiftings and turnings respectively and the pitch of the shifted layers and elements.

6. A device according to claim 5 comprising a compression device having staggered compression members disposed in accordance with the pitch of the shifted layers and elements, and operating independently of each other, said compression device being adapted to cooperate in coordinated manner with a vibrating device for eli rninating the threshold action.

7. The method of stacking uniform rectangular solid elements to be bundled and transported, comprising steps of superimposing in uniform fashion and in one direction a plurality of said elements into uniform rows to create a regular multi-column sheet and horizontally shifting within the range of one column and in the direction of a row a part of said layers out of alignment with respect to adjacent layers to provide lateral recesses and protrusions in said sheet and uniformly moving respec' tive elements in a number of layers round their vertical center axes to create at an oblique angle lateral recesses within said sheet.

8. The method of stacking uniform rectangular solid elements to be bundled and transported, comprising steps of superimposing in uniform fashion and in one direction a plurality of said elements into uniform rows to create a regular multilayer and multi-column sheet and horizontally shifting within the range of one column and in the direction of a row a part of said layers out of alignment with respect to adjacent layers to provide lateral recesses and protrusions in said sheet and further comprising steps of removing terminal elements from at least one top layer.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising steps of adding an element into a lateral recess in central portion of said sheet.

10. The method of stacking uniform rectangular solid elements to be bundled and transported, comprising steps of superimposing in uniform fashion and in one direction a plurality of said elements into uniform rows to create a regular multilayer and multicolumn sheet and horizontally shifting within the range of one column and in the direction of a row a part of said layers out of alignment with respect to adjacent layers to provide lateral recesses and protrusions in said sheet, and further comprising steps of removing a part of inner elements from a row in the lower portion of said sheet to provide spaced voids therein, and vertically shifting opposite elements from an adjacent layer halfway into said voids.

11. A package of uniform block-shaped elements, such as bricks and the like, comprising a stack of said elements uniformly arranged in rows superposed in one vertical plane, at least a part of said rows being staggered relative to and in the direction of adjacent rows to form lateral protrusions at one side and recesses at opposite sides of said stack; and banding means disposed on the periphery of said stack across respective protrusions to bundle the stack and to distribute the pressure over an increased area between respective rows when lifting the package.

12. The package according to claim 11 wherein at least a row in the middle portion of said stack contains more elements than the other layers.

13. The package according to claim 11 wherein at least a row in the top portion of said stack contains fewer elements than the other layers.

14. The package of uniform rectangular solid elements, such as bricks and the like, comprising a stack of said elements uniformly arranged in rows superposed in one vertical plane, at least a part of said rows being staggered relative to and in the direction of adjacent rows to form lateral protrusions at one side and recesses at opposite sides of said stack; and banding means disposed on the periphery of said stack across respective protrusions to bundle the stack and to distribute the pressure over an increased area between respective rows when lifting the package, and further comprising inside recesses at the lower portion of the stack, said recesses being spaced apart from each other by means of elements disposed halfway within said recesses between two adjacent layers.

15. The package according to claim 14 wherein longitudinal axesof all elements are substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane of said stack.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,283,871 11/1918 Nichols 21410.5 2,012,220 8/1935 Chambers 214--10.5 2,181,357 11/1939 Chipman 214-152 2,915,208 12/ 1959 Benschoter 2l410.5 2,962,163 11/ 1960 Else 206 3,148,773 9/ 1964- Baumer 214- 2,605,898 8/ 1952 Perssom et al.

FOREIGN PATENTS 536,796 4/ 1955 Belgium.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner J. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner U.S. c1. X.R. 214-105, 152 

